Return on Assets (ROA)

KPI Name

Return on Assets (ROA)

Alternative Names

ROA Ratio

KPI Description

Measures how efficiently a company uses its assets to generate profit.

Category

Financial

KPI Type

Quantitative, Lagging

Target Audience

Investors, CFOs, Business Owners

Formula

ROA = (Net Income / Total Assets) × 100

Calculation Example

If a company has $2,000,000 in total assets and earns $200,000 in net income, ROA = (200,000 / 2,000,000) × 100 = 10%

Data Source

Financial reports, balance sheets, accounting records

Tracking Frequency

Quarterly, Annually

Optimal Value

Higher is better, indicating efficient asset utilization.

Minimum Acceptable Value

A very low ROA suggests ineffective use of assets.

Benchmark

Banking industry ~1-2%, Manufacturing ~5-10%, Tech ~10-15%

Recommended Chart Type

Line chart (to track trends), Bar chart (to compare across industries)

How It Appears in Reports

Displayed as a percentage in financial reports to evaluate asset efficiency.

Why Is This KPI Important?

Shows how well a company converts assets into profits, helping in capital allocation.

Typical Problems and Limitations

ROA varies greatly by industry, does not consider asset depreciation.

Actions for Poor Results

Improve asset utilization, optimize investment in capital expenditures.

Related KPIs

Return on Investment (ROI), Return on Equity (ROE), Net Profit Margin

Real-Life Examples

A manufacturing company improved ROA by automating processes, reducing costs by 15%.

Most Common Mistakes

Comparing ROA across industries without considering asset intensity.